TUF Series to come to the UK?

The Ultimate Fighter series, with British mixed martial artists trying to get a UFC deal, on terrestrial TV? Sounds far-fetched.

It may not be. The Ultimate Fighter series could soon be in the UK, and be shown on terrestrial television, with Michael Bisping as one of the team coaches. Bisping, of course, went from Clitheroe in Lancashire to Las Vegas and won Series 3 of the Ultimate Fighter.

Those are the whispers - not confirmed - that talks are underway to create a first TUF series in the UK, given its success in the US. It follows the success of Forrest Griffin last weekend.

Three years ago, Griffin fought Stephan Bonnar in what has come to be regarded as one of the most significant televised fights in mixed martial arts history. Three days ago, Griffin was part of another significant fight, taking the UFC light heavyweight championship away from Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

UFC president Dana White believes The Ultimate Fighter series had a major impact on what has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. "It is one of the biggest things that's ever happened to mixed martial arts," White explained this week to an MMA website.

"The people that are on the inside know. Young, up-and-coming talent can't wait to get on that show. And the talent that's coming out of that show... If you look at half the guys that are on our cards, they're coming from this show. The fact of the matter is, the guys that are on the show are on a certain level, and when they come off they're at a whole other level."
Griffin is testimony to that. White said: "This guy is the American Dream. He was going to quit mixed martial arts. He was going to do the white picket fence, become a cop in Georgia. He didn't fly out like he was supposed to. We had to get on the phone and talk him in. Going into that finale [Griffin v Bonnar] we didn't have a deal. Spike TV was in turmoil.
"The president of the company had just been fired. I was flying back there 50 times a day fighting with these guys and it didn't look like there was going to be a season two of The Ultimate Fighter despite the huge numbers it pulled. When [the Griffin-Bonnar] fight happened that night, the deal was signed in the alley behind the Thomas & Mack. You see us on a network yet?
"We're one of the most powerful sports on earth and we're not on network television. The main reason is we know we have to run a business and you can't make stupid deals. Most of these [other] guys are giving all the rights away.

"Even when we were in a bad situation - we payed $10 million to be on the first season - but we own everything lock, stock and barrel. That's unheard of in the television business, to own the content. We move on from here."